Korg Trident (1980, 1982)

An 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer with integrated synthesizer, brass, and strings sections, released in two distinct models.

Overview

The Korg Trident is an 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer built as a flagship for professional musicians. It puts a fully programmable analog synth engine and dedicated brass and strings sections in a single 61-key keyboard. The Mk I came out in 1980 and the Mk II followed in 1982. It was designed for layered orchestral sounds and for the stage. It grew directly out of Korg's PS series, and it was aimed at high-end rivals like the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5. The three sound modules can be used at the same time, and the keyboard can be split between them.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Korg
Model	Trident
Product type	8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer
Production years	1980 (Mk I), 1982 (Mk II)
Original price	$4,595 USD
Polyphony	8-voice polyphonic
Voice architecture	Brass and strings operate in paraphonic mode, sharing voices for ensemble effects
Synthesizer section oscillators	Dual voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) per voice in the synthesizer section
Synthesizer section waveforms	Sawtooth, triangle, square, and pulse-width waveforms
Synthesizer section filter	Resonant low-pass filter based on the SSM 2044 chip
Envelopes	Dual ADSR envelope generators
Modulation	A modulation generator for LFO duties
Brass section	Provides a dedicated filter with cutoff, resonance, and envelope controls
Strings section	Offer attack/release envelopes, EQ shaping, and a unique 'bowing' effect to simulate bowed instrument articulation
Effects	Built-in effects such as a bucket-brigade device (BBD) flanger, ensemble chorus for strings, and joystick-controlled pitch bend and vibrato
Memory	32 programmable memories (expanded from 16 in the original Mk I) for storing patches across four banks
Keyboard	61-note keyboard spanning five octaves
Keyboard action	Standard non-velocity-sensitive key action
Keyboard splitting	Supports keyboard splitting for assigning sections to different ranges
Dimensions	Approximately 1012 mm in width, 524 mm in depth, and 52 mm in height
Weight	21 kg
Mk II filter upgrade	Upgrading to a 24 dB/octave filter
Mk II oscillator upgrade	Adding detunable oscillator banks for thicker sounds
Mk II memory	Improving memory and envelope options

Design

The Trident has a multi-sectional design. A programmable synthesizer bank, a brass ensemble, and a string machine share one 61-key instrument, so you can layer sounds or split the keyboard. It sits in a wooden cabinet. The front panel is divided into Synthesizer, Brass, and Strings sections. Development began in late 1979 under secretive conditions and ran over a year, led by Korg engineer Mr. Mori. Research into sampling technology along the way produced a four-voice prototype. It was shelved in favor of the Trident's analog design.

Context

The Trident grew out of Korg's PS series, including the PS-3100 (1977) and PS-3300. Korg positioned it as its flagship, aimed at professional musicians, and set it against the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and other high-end polysynths of the early 1980s, both for sound versatility and for onstage efficiency.

Reception

The Korg Trident gained a cult following among progressive rock and synth-pop artists, including Rick Wakeman of Yes and Paul Humphreys of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. A February 1982 review in *Electronics & Music Maker* praised its "big orchestral sound," which came from powerful section blending and built-in effects like flanging, and called it well suited to emotional, classical-style playing. The review also noted minor drawbacks: no keyboard touch-sensitivity and limited waveform options.